Max Baucus

I move to table the Portman amendment and ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The question is on agreeing to the motion. The clerk will call the roll. The…

thanks in part to filmmaker Steven Spielberg, there is renewed interest today in America's 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. A century and a half ago, during one of the most critical times in American history, Lincoln faced a nation divided…

I appreciate the intent of the Senator from Pennsylvania. When we stop and think about this amendment, it reminds us of the movie and the book ``The Hunger Games.'' In ``The Hunger Games,'' you will recall, children were pitted against…

I rise to speak on two amendments. It will be the first amendment offered by the Senator from Ohio, his first amendment, and also I will speak on an amendment offered by the Senator from Pennsylvania. I think the Senator from Maryland, the…

I move to table the Toomey amendment and ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There is a sufficient second. The question is on agreeing to the motion. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative…

Senator Hatch and I would like to recognize the outstanding career of Mr. Larry J. Goldberg, Principal Deputy Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, HHS. Mr. Goldberg retired on January 3, after more than 35…

last year the U.S. experienced the most severe and extensive drought in at least 25 years. While the impacts of the drought affected both crop and livestock sectors, our commodity farmers have had some protection under crop insurance. With…

Benjamin Franklin once said: The noblest question in the world is, ``What good may I do in it?'' I rise today to honor the service of Russ Sullivan, who was a distinguished member of my staff for more than a decade until his departure…

Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa once said ``Safety and security don't just happen; they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life…

I will speak within that period of time. Thank you very much, and I thank both Senators. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Montana is recognized.

I appreciate the Senator withdrawing his amendment. Had he not, I would have had to oppose it. It basically waives the Davis- Bacon requirements instruction for the Sandy rehabilitation projects. It is a bad idea, and we shouldn't have…

President Kennedy once said: There are risks and costs to action, but they are far less than the long-range risks of comfortable inaction. Here we are on December 28, just 3 days from what some have termed the ``fiscal cliff''--trillions…

Nelson Mandela, the former president of South Africa, once said ``Safety and security don't just happen; they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a…

However, when we rush these proceedings, it seems to me, particularly so near to the end of this Congress, we may be doing the committee and the nominees a disservice.

I would respectfully suggest that, when you return to your agencies, you pass along a reminder that at least some in Congress find the lack of responsiveness to be entirely unacceptable.

I would like to say a few words about our close, beloved friend, colleague, Danny Inouye. I am hard pressed to think of anyone in this body I respected and loved more than Danny Inouye. His broad smile, his desire to work with you, help…

I know that Chairman Baucus recognizes the need for transparency and responsiveness and that he will work with me on finding a solution to this problem.

The hearing will come to order. It seems we are going to have to go with the flow here and call audibles as we proceed.

Let me repeat that: we must maintain or strengthen the protections beneficiaries enjoy today.

I thank the Senator from Utah. He is a good man. I also thank staff who helped put this bill together. Amber Cottle, on my side, and Everett Eissenstat, who works for Senator Hatch, worked very hard. They lead very good, trained teams, I…

we will soon be voting on whether to establish permanent normal trade relations--otherwise known as PNTR-- with Russia and Moldova and to update human rights legislation on Russia. We have to take many difficult votes in this Chamber, but…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senator from Ohio be allowed to speak for 5 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I understand we are, in effect, debating Russian PNTR. Robert Louis Stevenson once said, ``The mark of a good action is that it appears inevitable in retrospect.'' When I traveled to Russia in February, many doubted that Congress would…

I yield 10 minutes to the Senator from Connecticut. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Connecticut.

I wish to say a few words that deserve our attention. On Monday, an attack on U.S. troops in Afghanistan claimed the lives of SFC Darren Linde and SPC Tyler Orgaard of the North Dakota National Guard. Sergeant Linde was a graduate of…